Patent US5705986A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5705986A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and apparatus for automatic deactivation of electronic article surveillance tags
Assignee: Tyco Fire and Security GmbH
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Filing: 1996-09-26
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Granted: 1998-01-06
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Expires: 2016-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for automatically deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article comprising a member for holding a bag for packaging an article having an associated electronic article surveillance tag, deactivation means positioned in relation to the member to deactivate an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article when such article is in a bag held by the member, and detection means for detecting when a person is in the process of removing a bag from the member to actuate the deactivation means.
Inventors
- 👤 Joerg W. Zschirnt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:36
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2408; G08B13/2411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for automatically deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article, said apparatus comprising: (a) a member for holding a bag for packaging an article having an associated electronic article surveillance tag; (b) deactivation means positioned in relation to said member for deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article when the article is in a bag held by said member; and (c) detection means for detecting when a person is in the process of removing a bag from said member to actuate said deactivation means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for automatically deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article, said apparatus comprising: (a) a member for holding a bag for packaging an article having an associated electronic article surveillance tag; (b) deactivation means positioned in relation to said member for deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article when the article is in a bag held by said member; and (c) detection means for detecting when a person is in the process of removing a bag from said member to actuate said deactivation means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said detection means detects a change in an electrical characteristic of said member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said detection means detects a change in an electrical characteristic of said member when a human hand is a predetermined distance from said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said detection means detects a change in the capacitance of said member when a human hand is a predetermined distance from said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said member is electrically insulated from ground potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said detection means detects a change in the impedance of said member when a human hand is a predetermined distance from said member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said predetermined distance is zero millimeters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said predetermined distance is less than approximately twenty-five millimeters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said detection means has a response time of less than approximately one hundred milliseconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said member comprises two members that are electrically connected in parallel to said detection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said members comprise bagging racks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said detection means comprises an oscillator and a tank circuit tuned to a predetermined frequency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said predetermined frequency is in the range of approximately two hundred to three hundred kilohertz.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said detection means further comprises a first circuit connected to said member for providing a first signal indicative of the impedance of said member and a comparator connected to said first circuit for comparing said first signal to a predetermined signal and providing an actuation signal to said deactivation means if said first signal is equal to said predetermined signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said detection means further comprises a second circuit that sets the response time of said detection means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said first circuit comprises a dual operational amplifier and said second circuit comprises a resistive-capacitive circuit connected to said dual operational amplifier.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of automatically deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a deactivation means for deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag in relation to a member for holding a bag such that when the deactivation means is actuated an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article in a bag held by the member is deactivated; (b) monitoring the member to determine when a person is in the process of removing a bag from the member; and (c) actuating the deactivation means when said monitoring step determines that a person is in the process of removing a bag from the member.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of automatically deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a deactivation means for deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag in relation to a member for holding a bag such that when the deactivation means is actuated an electronic article surveillance tag associated with an article in a bag held by the member is deactivated; (b) monitoring the member to determine when a person is in the process of removing a bag from the member; and (c) actuating the deactivation means when said monitoring step determines that a person is in the process of removing a bag from the member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring an electrical characteristic of the member to determine when a person is in the process of removing a bag from the member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said monitoring step comprises determining when a human hand is a predetermined distance from the member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said monitoring step comprises detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of the member when a human hand is a predetermined distance from the member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said monitoring step comprises detecting a change in the capacitance of the member when a human hand is a predetermined distance from the member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said monitoring step comprises detecting a change in the impedance of the member when a human hand is a predetermined distance from the member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the impedance of the member and comparing the impedance with a predetermined signal, and wherein said actuating step comprises providing an actuation signal to the deactivation means when the impedance is equal to the predetermined signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-05 | 2001-07-07 | 2002-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-05 | 2005-07-07 | 2006-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-05 | 2009-07-07 | 2010-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |